I haven't updated about my condition in a while. So here's a little something, with more to come soon.
I went to see my Radiation Oncologist and Neurosurgeon in La Jolla last week for our regularly scheduled follow-up MRI. It's always been a little tough for the technicians and/or nurses to find a vein, but they've always ended up finding one after some time and patience.
Not this time. I was poked and prodded 3 times to no avail. We called my doctors to see if I should go ahead and do the MRI without contrast anyway. They said to go for it (after all it is 8 hours away from home each time I go see them). All this MRI showed was some swelling at the radiation treatment site. Normal. Explains why I am having headaches again. I've been taking some Hydrocodone (Vicodin) again, which I never took the first time that I went through the 6 weeks of radiation treatment. It dulls the pain and makes me drowsy, but doesn't relieve the swelling, so I opened up my old scrip of dexamethasone. (Steroids). Since thursday I've taken a total of 4 pills, but will likely start taking 4 a day. Swelling is a normal side effect of Radiation treatment, but steroids are no fun.
I still get headaches periodically throughout the day. And in 6 weeks I am going back to La Jolla to see my doctors for another MRI, this time intended to be successful so that I can have the normal Contrast, Profusion, and Spectroscopy included.
I'll be seen first in the Infusion Lab for an Ultrasound so that a vein can be found and successfully used to inject the contrast and the profusion. I'm hoping and praying for favorable results. (tumor shrinkage..no spreading).
Other than that, I'm trying to stay cool in the Sacramento Heat this summer. Not too terrible today, only 93. ;)
Dex steroid is no fun at all. Hope they manage to do the MRI with contrast next time aswell.
ReplyDeleteI pray for good results too.
I know what you mean about the difficulty of getting into a vein for contrast injections.
ReplyDeleteAfter 16 years living with a benign tumor and so many blood tests to check dilantin levels I've lost count, the veins seem to become scarred to the point where no-one can easily give me an injection theses days. I too dread the contrast injections during an MRI now.
Still, you sometimes come across a skillful clinician who can get the job done. I hope you get one next time.
I all so have had that same problem with IV's, but for best results you need to have the contrast. I'm a 4 year surviver of a Anaplastic Astrocytoma grade 3, as far as the vein problems what has worked for me now is day's before my MRI I start drinking more water than I normally do. It always helps.
ReplyDelete